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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by resisting on July 11, 2006, at 13:57:55
I took my last dose of Effexor 6 days ago (I've been tapering off slowly since January, when I was at 150mg/day--this has taken forever!).
The dizziness and nausea are starting to go away (I think), but the brain zaps are getting worse--extremely uncomfortable making it very difficult to concentrate and stay focused--and I ache all over (is that common?). Also, I feel kind of like I have severe PMS: my emotions have been all over the place.
Does anyone have any remedies for withdrawal symptoms? After years of pharmeceuticals, I'd really appreciate some other remedies. Thanks!
Posted by Myrk on July 26, 2006, at 13:00:41
In reply to Help for Effexor Withdrawal?, posted by resisting on July 11, 2006, at 13:57:55
I never experienced withdraws, but then again, I was only on it for two months. I stepped down from 300mg (waaaay too much), but I was switched over to something called Depakote and countered the MAJOR side-effect of lethergy with something called Provigal.
The first week, I went from 300mg to 225mg by taking my two 150mgs one day, and the next only taking one 150mg. They explained that the 300mg dose would still be in my blood the following day, thus spreading it out. Anyway, I can't comment on the first week - I was out stone cold for most of it. It was 8 hours of work, 1-2 hours of ordinary living stuff (dinner, laundry, etc), and then 10-14 hours of sleep. Depakote, by nature, is a mood-stabilizer, commonly used to stop epileptic seizures and sometimes used to combat manic episodes of Bipolar disorder.
The second week, my doc proscribed my with something called Provigal, sinse we also wanted to see how my AD/HD would react to that (we weren't sure if I had it at the time). Kept me awake and functional for the better part of the day. Stepped down to 150mg a day. Personally, I didn't notice anything, but people around me said I was a bit irritable the first couple days, but quickly got better.
After that, stepped down to 75mg the next week, and then 37.5mg the following week. Doc suggested I stay on 37.5mg for 2 weeks, but I stopped myself early because of bad experiences with that damn pill. Again, there was a noticable change in my attitude this time as well, but I calmed a few days after I cut myself off. Now, whether or not it was the Depakote that helped tranqualize me during the rough times, I dunno. Might be something to ask your doc, though.
-Myrk
Posted by ku4ns on August 2, 2006, at 19:51:01
In reply to Re: Help for Effexor Withdrawal?, posted by Myrk on July 26, 2006, at 13:00:41
> I never experienced withdraws, but then again, I was only on it for two months. I stepped down from 300mg (waaaay too much), but I was switched over to something called Depakote and countered the MAJOR side-effect of lethergy with something called Provigal.
>
> The first week, I went from 300mg to 225mg by taking my two 150mgs one day, and the next only taking one 150mg. They explained that the 300mg dose would still be in my blood the following day, thus spreading it out. Anyway, I can't comment on the first week - I was out stone cold for most of it. It was 8 hours of work, 1-2 hours of ordinary living stuff (dinner, laundry, etc), and then 10-14 hours of sleep. Depakote, by nature, is a mood-stabilizer, commonly used to stop epileptic seizures and sometimes used to combat manic episodes of Bipolar disorder.
>
> The second week, my doc proscribed my with something called Provigal, sinse we also wanted to see how my AD/HD would react to that (we weren't sure if I had it at the time). Kept me awake and functional for the better part of the day. Stepped down to 150mg a day. Personally, I didn't notice anything, but people around me said I was a bit irritable the first couple days, but quickly got better.
>
> After that, stepped down to 75mg the next week, and then 37.5mg the following week. Doc suggested I stay on 37.5mg for 2 weeks, but I stopped myself early because of bad experiences with that damn pill. Again, there was a noticable change in my attitude this time as well, but I calmed a few days after I cut myself off. Now, whether or not it was the Depakote that helped tranqualize me during the rough times, I dunno. Might be something to ask your doc, though.
>
> -MyrkI used prozac to help with the effexor withdrawal and it worked well, but i'm still on the prozac 2 years later.
Posted by laurie_lu on August 4, 2006, at 15:26:57
In reply to Re: Help for Effexor Withdrawal?, posted by ku4ns on August 2, 2006, at 19:51:01
In my experience....
Benadryl for the dizziness and brain zaps.
Dramamine for the nausea.
Motrin or Tylenol for the headeaches.
Fish Oil pills and Vitamin B 50 Complex.
This is the end of the thread.
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